Open-court Shots (Tip and Roll)
Hitters practise placing soft shots into the open spaces behind the block and in the middle of the court. Smart shots score when power is blocked.
- Focus
- Off-speed attacks and court awareness
- Level
- Intermediate
- Players
- 5+
- Equipment
- Balls, a net
- Time
- 10 min
Bird’s-eye view
Bird’s-eye view: the hitter tips over the block into the empty space behind it.
📍 Setup
Two blockers stand on the far side; two defenders play deep. Hitters attack from the left side.
🪜 How to run it
- The setter sets the outside hitter.
- The hitter approaches as if to swing hard.
- At the last moment, the hitter tips over the block or rolls the ball into the open middle.
- Defenders try to dig the shot; blockers stay on the net.
- Switch roles every 8 attacks.
🏆 Scoring
A shot that lands untouched scores 2; a shot that forces a defender to dig on the run scores 1.
🧑🏫 Coaching this drill
What success looks like
The shot looks like a full swing until the last moment and lands where no one is standing.
Coaching cues
“Look before you leave the floor”“Same approach as a hard swing”“Fingertips, not palm”
Common mistakes
- Tipping straight into the blocker’s hands. Fix: Push the ball up and over the block, then down into the gap.
- Slowing the approach (giving it away). Fix: Approach at full speed; change only the arm at the end.
➖ Make it easier
No blockers — just place shots into marked open zones.
➕ Make it harder
Defenders move during the approach, and the hitter has to find the new gap.
When to move on
When most shots land in the open court, mix in hard swings so defenders can’t cheat.